This Tuesday, April 15, 2025, France announced the expulsion of 12 Algerian diplomats, in response to a similar measure taken by Algeria. This decision marks a new escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
The Paris reaction follows the expulsion by Algiers of 12 French officials, in protest against the arrest in France of an Algerian consular agent. The latter is suspected of involvement in the abduction in April 2024 of Amir Boukhors, a critical influencer of the Algerian government.
French President Emmanuel Macron also recalled the French ambassador to Algeria for consultations, Stéphane Romatet. The Élysée called the expulsion of French officials “unjustified and incomprehensible”, accusing Algiers of being responsible for a “brutal degradation” of bilateral relations.
This crisis comes after an attempted warming of relations, marked by a telephone interview between Emmanuel Macron and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune on March 31.
Tensions between the two countries have intensified in recent months, especially after the support displayed by France at the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a position disputed by Algeria.
The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, expressed his regrets in the face of this escalation, calling for a balanced dialogue to resolve disputes.
This series of reciprocal expulsions underlines the fragility of Franco-Algerian relations and the need for a renewed diplomatic commitment to overcome current disputes.
